Portable and collapsible sportsman&#39;s seat



Nov. 8, 1966 J. c. BOERMA PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE SPORTSMAN'S SEATFiled July 19, 1965 INVENTOR. Jae PAM cTO/M/ I.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,283,733 PURTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLESPORTSMANS SEAT John C. Boerma, Grand Haven, Mich, assignor of fiftypercent to Donald J. Boer-ma, Comstock Park, Mich. Filed July 19, 1965,Ser. No. 472,800 3 Claims. (Cl. 108159) This invention relates .toseating means of the portable type such as are used by sportsmen,campers, and the like, and more particularly to a new type of suchseating means which may be instantaneously assembled for use in theheld, and which is readily collapsed to enhance its portability.

As persons such as sportsmen, hunters, and campers who spendconsiderable time in the out-of-doors are well aware, it is almostalways desirable 'and frequently a necessity to have some sort of seator chair which may easily be carried about, so that the person will notbe forced to sit upon the earth itself or upon natural objects such aslarge stones, tree stumps, or the like which may or may not be availableat any given time and which are likely to be wet and otherwiseuncomfortable even if available. This is particularly true of personswho hunt large animals such as deer, since the hunting season oc' cursin cold and damp wintry weather and most of the time spent in huntingrequires the hunter to remain as stationary as possible in a singlelocation, where the game is expected to pass. Seats of a portable naturehave been devised in the past, but for the most part the desirability ofsuch seats has been strictly limited. This is true because, among otherreasons, while previous seats may perhaps be said to be portable in thebroad sense of the term, they are actually quite cumbersome andbothersome to carry about while hunting, Further, when such seats areused they are apt to be rather unsteady and not suitably rigid, and theyalso are quite restrictive and do not permit a hunter to make desiredmovements for observation while he is seated.

Accordingly, it is a major objective of the present invention to providea truly portable seating means for sportsmen and hunters which is sturdyand rigid in use, and whilch is instantaneously collapsible to render itextremely easy to carry and completely portable.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide acollapsible, portable seating means of the character described, whichincludes means for retaining the leg portion of the seating means inplace upon the earth in a desired preselected location.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide acollapsible, portable seating means of the aforesaid nature, whichpermits easy movement of the seat portion relative to the leg portion,so that the hunter may, while remaining seated, swivel about in order tomore carefully observe the area of surveillance.

The foregoing objects and the advantages related thereto, together withadditional desirable features and attributes of the invention, willbecome increasingly apparent following a consideration of the ensuingspecification and its appended claims, particularly when taken inconjunction with the accompanying illustrative drawings setting forth apreferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an upright, frontal, perspective view of the complete seatingmeans;

FIG. 1 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the upperextremity of the single support leg of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the lowermostextremity of the single leg support of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, bottom perspective of .the seating Patented Nov.8, 1966 platform shown in FIG. 1, showing further details thereof.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a collapsible, portableseating means for sportsmen and the like, which includes a seatplatform, a single upright support for said platform, means fordetachably connecting the seat upon the upper extremities of the uprightsupport which also allows relative rotative movement between the seatplatform and the support when the same are con nected together, andmeans associated with the lower extremities of the support for fixedlyretaining the same in a desired placement upon the earth. The seat andsupport are easily detachable from each other, and when so detached areeasily carried or stored, in order to render the novel seating meanscompletely portable.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the assembled and completeseating means 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 in the normal upright positionin which it is generally used. It will be observed that the seatingmeans has a generally flat and preferably horizontal seat platform 12upon which one sits, and a single upright support member 14 whichsupports the seat 12 above the ground. The lowermost extremity 16 ofsupport 14- is formed, as by forging or swaging, into a point, and agenerally flat, washenlike disk or shoulder means 18 is secured to .thesupport 14 a predetermined distance above the pointed end 16 thereof.

The upright support member 14 of the seating means 10 is illustrated inmore detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. As seen here, the support itself ispreferably a tubular metal member, whose overall length is preferablyapproximately two feet, although this may of course be varied ifdesired. The upper extremity of the support member (FIG. 2) carries alongitudina'lly-extending generally cylindrical projection 20 having anupstanding point formed at its end. The projection 20 may be formedintegrally with the support, or the support may be provided with a capstructure 22 which interfits within the tubular support and is securedthereto as by a press fit or by welding or the like.

The lower extremity of the support member 14 (FIG. 3) is convergentlyswaged and then trimmed to form a broadened point 16 capable ofpenetrating the earth when it is placed thereupon and weight is app-liedto .the top of the member. A generally annular, transverse groove 17 ispreferably formed in the support member 14 a short distance above thepointed extremity 16, and the flat, disk-like shoulder means 18 seen inFIG. 1 mounts upon the support member 14 by being pressed telescopinglythereover until seated Within the groove 17. The shoulder means 18 thuscomes into flat, abutting contact with the surface of the earth when thepoint 16 is forced thereinto, thereby limiting the extent of penetrationwhich may result and positively establishing the elfective height of theseating platform 12.

The seat platform 12 of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, whichshows the bottom portions thereof. It will be noted that the seatplatform is a generally rectangular structure which may be made of adesired wood, metal, or plastic, and which may if desired includesuitable padding on the upper portion to make it more comfortable to situpon. A hearing recess 24 having cylindrical sides which converge toform a pointed end is formed generally centrally in the bottom of theseat platform 12, preferably by means of a bearing sleeve 26 embedded inor suitably secured to the bottom of the seat platform.

The bearing recess 24 of the seat platform 12 should be of such adiameter as to smoothly receive the projection 20 of the support member14, with the pointed end of the projection providing a needle bearingfor contacting the pointed end of the recess. The extent to which theprojection extends into the bearing recess need not be particularlygreat, and for the most part need merely 'be such as to prevent the seatplatform 12 from either tipping away from or slipping sideways off theupright support 14. It has been found in practice that an engagement ofapproximately three-fourths inch is quite sufficient for this purpose.The bearing contact between the pointed projection and recess portionsprovides for extremely easy rotative movement between these two parts,which is not likely to produce squeals or other noises which mightstartle the game or alert it to the presence of the hunter. It should benoted, however, that the cap structure 22 of the upright support 14 maybe formed to provide a generally flat, annular support shoulder 28, andthat the bearing sleeve 26 of the seat platform 12 may provide agenerally flat bearing surface 30. The shoulder 28 and the surface 3%may then be used in bearing contact with each other to provide a smoothrelative rotation between the seat platform 12 and the upright support14, if this type of configuration is desired; however, thisconfiguration may produce squeals, which the pointed construction doesnot do.

, As FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 reveal, a length of cord 32 or like material ispassed through an appropriate eyelet 34 anchored to the support 14. Oneend of this cord is anchored behind eyelet 34, as by a knot, while theother end passes through a corresponding eyelet 36 secured to theunderside of the seat platform 12 and is looped upon itself to form athong or sling 38. This arrangement provides a very convenient andpreferred means for carrying the novel seating means, or willsubsequently appear more fully.

Having now completely described the structure involved in the presentseating means, and having also indicated the manner of its assembly anddisassembly, the use thereof while afield in the out-of-doors should bequite apparent. Upon beginning the days hunting, a deer hunter (forexample) may detach the seat platform 12 from the upright support 14,and then suspend the entire seating means from one shoulder, as byslinging the thong 38 over his arm and about the shoulder. He may thenwalk with completely unencumbered hands to a desired hunting position.Alternatively, either or both the seat platform and upright support mayconveniently be carried in one hand when disassembled, if this isdesired.

Upon reaching a selected hunting position, the hunter merely slips theprojection 20 of the support member 14 into the bearing recess 24 of theseat platform 12, places the pointed end extremity of the support uponthe ground, and seats himself atop the seat platform. When the weight ofthe hunter is placed upon the seat platform, the point portion 16 of thesupport naturally penetrates into the earth, and this serves to steadythe seat and maintain it in a desired placement upon the ground, in anupright condition.

The penetration of the pointed. end extremity into the ground is limitedat a desired point when the disk-like shoulder means 18 comes intoabutting relation with the surface of the earth. This establishes theseating height of the device. At this extent of penetration, the seatingmeans is quite steady under the weight of the hunter, and in fact isfree-standing, so that if the hunter should arise the seat will remainupright in position and will not fall over into adjacent snow or wateror the like. Instead, it will merely remain stuck in the ground so thatthe hunter may subsequently resume his seat whenever he desires.Further, even while seated the hunter is not limited as to his position,but due to the interaction of the rotatable, detachable connectionbetween the seat platform and the upright support, the hunter may rotateabout on his seat for the maximum effectiveness in surveying his huntingposition. Due to the complete ease of assembling and disassembling theseat, the hunter may move as often 'as desired during the day withoutthe necessity of spending time and effort in changing his seat orsetting up new seating facilities, but instead may devote his entiretime to the hunt.

Having gained a full appreciation of the concepts underlying theinvention, various changes and modifications in the preferred structureshown herein may be suggested to those skilled in the art to' Which itpertains. Consequently, all such variations and. modifications asincorporate the spirit of the invention are to be considered as withinthe scope of the claims appended herebelow; unless these claims by theirlanguage specifically state otherwise.

I claim:

1. A collapsible, portable seating means for sportsmen and the like,comprising in combination: a generally fiat seat platform; means forminga generally cylindrical bearing recess in one of the underside of saidseat platform or in the top of said upright support member; a singleupright support member; the other one of said seat platform or uprightsupport member having a generally cylindrical protrusion; saidprotrusion being receivable within said bearing recess to rotatably andremovably mount said seat upon said support; said upright support memberhaving a lower extremity formed to penetrate into the earth to retainthe support in a desired placement thereupon; shoulder means attached tosaid support a predetermined distance above said pointed extremity toabuttingly contact the earth and limit the penetration of said supportthereinto; an elongated flexible member secured to said seat platformand said upright support member for coupling them together even whendetached at said bearing recess thereby facilitating the carryingthereof on the shoulder of a person by slinging said elongated flexiblemember thereover.

2. A collapsible, portable seating means for sportsmen and the like,comprising in combination: a generally flat seat platform; means forminga generally cylindrical bearing recess in one of the underside of saidseat platform or in the top of said upright support member; a singlehollow tubular upright support member; the other one of said seatplatform or upright support member having a generally cylindricalprotrusion; said protrusion being receivable within said bearing recessto rotatably and removably mount said seat upon said support; saidhollow tubular upright support member having a swaged lower extremityformed into a point to penetrate into the earth to retain the support ina desired placement thereupon; a transverse groove in said supportlocated a short distance above the said point; and a washer-like discpress-fitted over said tubular support into said groove providing ashoulder means attached to said support a predetermined distance abovesaid pointed extremity to abuttingly contact the earth and limit thepenetration of said support thereinto; said seat and tubular supportwhen detached from each other being easily carried to render saidseating means completely portable.

3. A collapsible, portable seating means for sportsmen and the like,comprising in combination: a generally flat seat platform; means forminga generally cylindrical bearing recess in one of the underside of saidseat platform or in the top of said upright support member; a singlehollow tubular upright support member; the other one of said seatplatform or upright support member having a generally cylindricalprotrusion; said protrusion being receivable within said bearing recessto rotatably and removably mount said seat upon said support; saidhollow tubular upright support member having a swaged lower extremityformed into a point to penetrate into the earth to retain the support ina desired placement thereupon; a transverse groove in said supportlocated a short distance above the said point; and a washer-like discpressfitted over said tubular support into said groove providing ashoulder means attached to said support a predetermined distance abovesaid pointed extremity to abut- 5 6 tingly contact the earth and limitthe penetration of said 1,736,177 11/1929 Snook 52-157 supportthereinto; an elongated flexible member secured 2,362,746 11/1944 DeVries 248-384 to said seat platform and said upright support member2,607,398 8/1952 Andrews 24844 for coupling them together even whendetached at said 2,607,643 3/ 1952 M t lf 1032.153 bearing recessthereby facilitating the carrying thereof 5 2 720 249 10/1955 pfiterson10 14 on the shoulder of a person by slinging said elongated 77 2 3 1 5Bamette flexible member thereover.

FOREIGN PATENTS R f t d th E e erencesCle e Xamme 850,535 9/1939 France.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 425,305 4/1890 Daniels et a1. 24s 415 CLAUDE LEROYJYimaI'Y Examiner- 1,21s,357 3/1917 Bauer 10s 15s

1. A COLLAPSIBLE, PORTABLE SEATING MEANS FOR SPORTSMEN AND THE LIKE,COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A GENERALLY FLAT SEAT PLATFORM; MEANS FORMINGA GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BEARING RECESS IN ONE OF THE UNDERSIDE OF SAIDSEAT PLATFORM OR IN THE TOP OF SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORT MEMBER; A SINGLEUPRIGHT SUPPORT MEMBER; THE OTHER ONE OF SAID SEAT PLATFORM OR UPRIGHTSUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL PROTRUSION; SAIDPROTRUSION BEING RECEIVABLE WITHIN SAID BEARING RECESS TO ROTATABLY ANDREMOVABLY MOUNT SAID SEAT UPON SAID SUPPORT; AND SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORTMEMBER HAVING A LOWER EXTREMITY FORMED TO PENETRATE INTO THE EARTH TORETAIN THE SUPPORT IN A DESIRED PLACEMENT THEREUPON; SHOULDER MEANSATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE ABOVE SAID POINTEXTREMITY TO ABUTTINGLY CONTACT THE EARTH AND LIMIT THE PENETRATION OFSAID SUPPORT THEREINTO; AND ELONGATED FLEXIBLE MEMBER SECURED TO SAIDSEAT PLATFORM AND SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORT MEMBER FOR COUPLING THEM TOGETHEREVEN WHEN DETACHED AT SAID BEARING RECESS THEREBY FACILITATING THECARRYING THEREOF ON THE SHOULDER OF A PERSON BY SLINGING SAID ELONGATEDFLEXIBLE MEMBER THEREOVER.